Finalists in The Art of Building Contest

Staircase 2 While our own art and photography contest is now underway (see YPOC’s Visual Storytellers), we’d like to shed some light on another one that’s by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). Called The Art of Building, this photography competition aims to showcase the very best digital photography of the built environment. “Entrants are encouraged to capture the built environment in a way not seen before, to inspire others and to challenge people's perceptions,” said CIOB. “The imagery should be original and thought provoking. But most of all we want you to enjoy taking photographs of this great industry. “

A panel of experts sifted through almost 2000 entries and then narrowed the field down to 12. You can now vote for your favorite on the Art of Building website or see some of the finalists right here. Love the stories that accompany each fantastic photo.

Above: East Sussex, UK-based photographer Christian Morris took this at the Royal College of Physicians, London, UK.
“Designed by Denys Lasdun, I would expect that every corner of this building alludes to some form of artistic composition,” said Morris. “I found that this shot best captured the essence of the building.”

Ghosts of the Underground
London-UK based photographer Christopher Drummond took this photo in an underground station in London, UK.
“People, over time, leave traces in the buildings they inhabit,” said Drummond. “The image shows a patina of collected fleeting moments from life's daily routine. In reflecting on traces like these, design becomes an iterative process. This is fundamental to the art of building.”

Rooftop Walk
Hertford, UK-based photographer David Poultney took this photo on the roof of the IBC/MPC on the Olympic Park, London, UK.
“Checking his work, the long and lonely walk across the gigantic roof by the roofing contractor at the International Broadcast Centre on the Olympic Park, Stratford (The building is large enough to house five 747's),” said Poultney.

A Moment of Intensity
Virginia, USA-based photographer Adam Goldsmith took this photo at The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.
“The Wailing Wall in the old city is a building that is interacted with more than any other,” said Goldsmith. “I was able to capture this shot of raw emotion between a man and the wall.”

Old Gazebo
Kilmarnock, Scotland-based photographer Alan Kempster took this photo at Dumfries, Scotland.
“This simple Gazebo, well over 100 years old, still displays its original creativity, while the man and his dog carry on enjoying the building.”

Ghosts of the Future
Manchester, UK-based photographer Paul Greenwood took this photo in Barcelona.
“This shows the beauty of Barcelona’s past but in the context of it future hence the sheets over the building.”

Cabled City
Sutton, UK-based photographer Eric Chan took this photo at Canary Wharf in London, UK.
“To many people, this may be seen as a facade only for a building to give the aesthetic quality and protection of a building. My vision to this is rather distinctive as a futuristic Cabled City.”

The Last Tower
Budapest, Hungary-based photographer Zoltn Balogh took this photo in Esztergom, Hungary.
“The old boat loader building next to the bank of the river Danube looks like a remnant of a forgotten civilization.”

Makes you think twice about the way we interact with our constructed environments, doesn’t it?

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